ST. PAUL, MN (May 25, 2013) – The St. Paul Saints bullpen has struggled early on this season and it continued on Saturday night at Midway Stadium in a 7-4 loss to the El Paso Diablos in front of 4,649.

The Saints bullpen entered play with a 6.59 ERA and turned a 4-1 lead over to their relievers in the sixth inning. George Jensen took over for Cole Nelson, who allowed one run in 5.0 innings of work, but the Diablos quickly turned the deficit into a lead of their own. Mitch Einertson led off with a walk and Brian Joynt doubled him to third. Jonathan Cisneros doubled them both home to cut the Saints lead to 4-3. Cisneros finished the game 3-5 with two doubles and four RBI. Cisneros moved to third on a wild pitch and Moises Montero walked. A sacrifice fly by Roberto Ramirez tied the game at four. Edgar Corcino then deposited one over the right field wall, his first of the season, to give the Diablos a 6-4 lead. Jensen went 1.0 inning allowing five runs on three hits, while walking three.

The Diablos, who entered play with the highest ERA in the league at 7.10, got great pitching from their bullpen. From the fifth inning on the Saints didn’t get more than one base runner on in any inning and had just one runner reach as far as second, a one out double by Adam Frost in the eighth. The Diablos bullpen tossed 5.0 shutout innings allowing two hits while walking one and striking out two.

The Saints jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first off of former Major Leaguer Carlos Monasterios. Joey Becker and Brad Boyer each singled with one out. Craig Brazell drove home Becker to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. Willie Cabrera’s RBI fielder’s choice made it 2-0. It was the seventh consecutive game Boyer has scored a run, a career high.

With the Saints leading 2-1 in the fourth Cabrera doubled and Brandon Tripp followed with a two-run blast to right, his second of the season extending his hitting streak to nine, giving the Saints a 4-1 lead.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Mark Hamburger (0-1, 6.97) to the mound against Diablos RHP David Casillas (1-1, 9.00). There is a post-game Monster Food Truck Rally and following that a fireworks SuperShow.

ST. PAUL, MN (May 26, 2013) – Mark Hamburger rebounded from a tough outing in his last start and Matt Myer looked like the pitcher from his first time around with the St. Paul Saints as they both helped in a 3-2 Saints victory over the El Paso Diablos on Sunday evening at Midway Stadium in front of 5,493.

It didn’t look like a pitcher’s duel would ensue as the Saints continued to pour on runs in the first inning. Dan Kaczrowski led off with a single and Joey Becker followed with a two-run tape measure shot to left, his second of the season one shy of tying his career high for a season, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead. The Saints have now outscored their opponents 16-1 in the first inning this season.

Hamburger struggled in the first couple of innings, but managed to get out of a couple of jams. In the third, however, Jonathan Cisneros and Brian Joynt had back-to-back doubles, the latter scoring a run, to make it 2-1 Saints.

Hamburger settled down and was magnificent as he retired 11 in a row from the third until the end of the sixth.

Diablos starter David Casillas was equally as effective not allowing a hit from Becker’s homer until a two out single by Craig Brazell in the sixth. Casillas went 7.0 innings allowing four runs on four hits while striking out seven.

In the seventh the Diablos threatened against Hamburger with Edgar Corcino reaching on a lead-off single and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Miguel Chacoa. Oscar Mesa singled to center moving Corcino to third. Hamburger, however, got a big 3-6-3 double play to end the inning.

In the eighth, however, Hamburger wasn’t as fortunate. Mitch Einertson led off with a double, moved to third on a ground out by Cisneros and scored on a single from Joynt to tie the game at two. Meyer replaced Hamburger and immediately gave up a single to pinch hitter JJ Muse that put runners at the corners with one out. Meyer got a big double play off the bat of Moises Montero to end the threat and keep the game tied. Hamburger went 7.1 innings allowing two runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out five.

The Saints took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Becker reached on a throwing error by shortstop Roberto Ramirez. With one out Brazell singled Becker to third and Willie Cabrera’s sacrifice fly drove him home to give the Saints a one run lead.

Meyer shut it down in the ninth striking out the first two hitters and getting Mesa to line out to end the game.

The Saints have Monday off before beginning a season long 10-game roadtrip that begins with a three game series against the Trois-Rivieres Aigles on Tuesday evening at 6:05 p.m. central time. The Saints send RHP Wes Roemer (2-0, 0.73) to the mound.